Industry Clusters

What is a cluster?

The Industry Clusters are designed as an MBA-like experience for undergraduates who are highly motivated to jump start their career and want to understand the marketplace in which they will do business in the future. The clusters employ an experiential learning model. This involves a high degree of student engagement, case studies, and collaborative problem solving in the form of team projects/presentations that help students develop skills in topical research, project management, business presentations, and preparation of business reports. In addition to course work, a co-curricular component of the Cluster model provides Cluster students with professional skills to succeed in the job market after graduation.

How does a cluster work?

Students admitted into a cluster will start cluster-specific activities in the autumn semester of their junior year. A faculty adviser for the cluster will choose alumni and industry experts from the cluster-specific industry, who will interact with students and deliver experiences relevant to the theme of the cluster. These experiences may be in the form of case discussions, solving problems, discussing current events, or working on projects.

This program is designed to be one year in length, with an opportunity to do projects for the companies represented in the spring semester. It allows for students to gain valuable knowledge about their future careers, understand the marketplace where they plan to do business, and provide them with a network of business professionals to help them be more competitive for job-seeking opportunities.

There will be seven cluster options for students for 2014-15:

In Their Words

We view our investment in this program as having many "returns" for us: it strengthens our relationship with the Fisher College, and gives us exposure and access to a pipeline of exceptional students who are passionate about healthcare, and through the program become knowledgeable and committed to this industry. In addition, it provides a development opportunity for those who teach in the program.